Qormi newcomer Gabriel forces his way past Tarxien Rainbows midfielder Marko Potezica, yesterday. Photo: Matthew MirabelliQormi 3
Bajada 35 pen; Effiong 50 pen; Gabriel 76;
Tarxien Rainbows 0
Gabriel could not have hoped for a better debut for Qormi as the Brazilian midfielder with attacking instincts inspired the Yellow-Blacks to a comfortable victory over Tarxien Rainbows yesterday.
With only two victories to show from their opening 12 matches and seven points behind sixth-placed Naxxar Lions, Tommaso Volpi’s Qormi badly needed to clinch maximum spoils from this encounter to stay in contention for Championship Pool football this season.
The arrival of Gabriel could not have come at a better moment for Qormi as the former Valletta player seems to have already settled down nicely in his new surroundings, forming a perfect partnership with Alfred Effiong.
Yesterday, his quick movement and deft touches created lots of problems to the Rainbows defence.
For Qormi, this was their first win in three matches. They moved out of the drop zone leaving Vittoriosa Stars in the next-bottom position ahead of lowly Rabat Ajax.
Volpi made a last-minute change to his starting formation as prior to kick-off he roped in Leighton Grech for Italian striker Ricardo Innocenti who started on the bench.
Gabriel partnered Effiong upfront as the Nigerian was back in the fray after missing the 4-1 defeat to Sliema Wanderers through suspension.
Duncan Pisani and Giuseppe Bellucci sat out with a one-match ban while Matthew Farrugia started in goal ahead of Steve Sultana.
Clive Mizzi, the Tarxien coach, had to plan this match without the services of defenders Luca Martinelli and Fernando Lopes, who were serving a one-match ban.
Steve Sadowski and Andrew Agius were drafted in the starting XI. Marco Potezica was also back.
Carlos Ronaille should have put Tarxien ahead as early as the seventh minute. However, the Brazilian, put through by Jorge Santos Silva, shot straight into the hands of Farrugia from an ideal scoring position.
Tarxien goalkeeper Tarxien Vella almost gifted Qormi an opener on 12 minutes after he completely missed his shot when trying to boot the ball upfield. Luckily for him, Effiong was a little too late to react and tap the ball inside an empty net.
The match failed to maintain that early momentum with scrappy play dominating proceedings for long spells. Not surprisingly, goalmouth action was in short supply.
However, Tarxien threatened again on 31 minutes when Sadowski arched the ball into the area where Ronaille headed just over.
Then, it was Qormi who broke the stalemate when Gabriel did well to create space for himself in the opponents’ box but was upended by Josef Mifsud. Referee Malcolm Spiteri ordered a penalty and Roderick Bajada sent Vella the wrong way to put his team ahead.
Mizzi was clearly unhappy with his team’s progress up to that juncture. So, he introduced Miguel Ciantar as the Tarxien coach looked to add more creativity in his team’s play in the final third.
On the stroke of half-time, Carlo Mamo’s set-piece cross finished in the path of Santos Silva whose angled drive flashed past the Qormi post.
Tarxien’s hopes were dealt a heavy blow soon after the restart.
Leighton Grech put Effiong clean through but he was brought down by Vella who conceded a second penalty against Tarxien besides getting red-carded. His place in goal was taken by Anthony Curmi who replaced Sadowski.
From the spot, Effiong blasted the ball past Curmi to make it 2-0.
Tarxien were clearly on the ropes and Qormi were close to score again when Effiong nodded the ball into the path of Gabriel but his shot on the turn hit the upright.
The Rainbows tried to move forward when possible. On one instance, Helvia picked Ronaille inside the area but the Brazilian headed the ball just over.
Ronaille had another good chance to pull one back for Tarxien on 65 minutes as he found himself in ample space after being served by Santos Silva.
This time, he opted to lob the ball over Farrugia but the keeper was equal to the task.
Ronaille did manage to put the ball inside the net 18 minutes from time following a goalmouth melee but his effort was annulled for an offside.
Qormi sealed the match on 76 minutes when in a swift break Gabriel sped past Mifsud before beating Curmi for his side’s third goal.
Dylan Pirotta replaced Gabriel late on and the young substitute almost got a goal on 83 minutes but his fierce volley was pushed away by Curmi.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, A. Effiong-7, R. Sammut-6.5, R. Bajada-6.5, Gabriel-8 (85 D. Pirotta), G. Nucera-6 (61 L. Del Giudice-6), E. Vella-6, O. Bugeja-6, J. Bondin-7, L. Grech-7, M. Petrassi-6.
Tarxien Rainbows
N. Vella, S. Sadowski-6 (50 A. Curmi-5.5), C. Mamo-6, A. Agius-4 (37 M. Ciantar-5), M. Potezica-5, Ronallie-4, Everton-5, R. Sammut-5, C. Hevia-5 (75 K. Pulo), J. Mifsud-5, J. Santos Silva-5.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow cards: Mifsud, Santos Silva, Vella, Bugeja, Ciantar.
Red card: Vella (T) 48.
BOV Player of the match: Gabriel (Qormi).